Gilmore killing - two in court

Geordie Gilmore who was shot and fatally wounded in Carrick on Monday. Pacemaker

Published:11:00Saturday 18 March 2017

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Two Co. Antrim men were remanded in custody today (Saturday) accused of the murder of George Gilmore.

Standing side by side in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court, 35-year-old Brian Roy McLean and Samuel David McMaw (28) confirmed they understood the four charges against them. A dozen police officers stood guard over the packed public gallery

McLean, from The Birches in Carrick and McMaw, from the Starbog Road in Kilwaughter just outside Larne, are jointly charged with the murder of Mr Gilmore, the attempted murders of Stephen Boyd and Kelvin Graham and possessing a self-loading pistol and seven round of 9mm ammunition with intent to endanger life on 13 March this year.

Mr Gilmore was shot in the neck as he sat in a car in the Pinewood Avenue area of Carrick on Monday at around 2.15pm.

The 44-year-old was rushed to hospital in a serious condition and put into intensive care but he later passed away, sparking a murder investigation into what police have described as a “ruthless killing in broad daylight.”

The gunman is thought to have made off on foot from the scene.

In court today (Saturday) Detective Inspector McCartney gave evidence that he believed he could connect the men to each of the charges.

Defence solicitors for McMaw and McLean said there were no applications for bail today but that there would be “in due course.”

Remanding both men into custody, District Judge Bernie Kelly ordered them to appear again on 6 April by video link.

As the pair were led away, male supporters in the public gallery clapped and cheered the alleged killers.